It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Dr Mke Bingham on Wednesday 28th June 2023.
For many years Mike undertook penguin research and conservation activities, bravely facing and overcoming opposition and hardships in his quest to draw attention to the plight of penguins. His story and research publications are detailed on this website and Mike's penguins.cl and seabirds.org websites.
"Mike Bingham was an excellent human being, a great scientist and above all a good companion. Mike loved his work at the penguin colony, he observed each penguin and sought perfection in each photo. Mike loved what he did, his fight for the penguins and the confrontation with the government of the Flanklands Islands, made his work even stronger, showing everyone his love for nature, but above all for the penguins.
Mike spent hours a day in front of the computer answering emails, observing in detail each photograph to send to his adopters, among those emails there were very nice stories that were told to Mike. But also some very sad ones, I have seen him cry on some occasions because of these stories. Mike was a sensitive, intelligent person, a good person with a big heart, Mike was not malicious, never in the 9 years and 3 months that we had been a couple, I never heard a rude word.
Mike was admirable, he was a fighter, a great scientist, the best person I ever met. I admired his intelligence, his kindness, but above all his humility and his big heart. When he talked about penguins, his blue eyes lit up and a beautiful smile appeared on his face. You could see the passion he had for his work. He never said no when someone asked him for help.
Some people who were studying to be a marine biologist contacted Mike to ask about his knowledge and his work. He always helped in any way he could. Mike had a noble and kind heart. Until his last day, Mike had that beautiful look that characterized him. Unfortunately, I no longer have it. His struggle was an example for many and admired by all. But his legacy remains with me, as I was his partner for 9 years and 3 months. I will continue to do his work, but I will never be the same as Mike. He is incomparable and irreplaceable. His death was and is very painful.
Mike was very good, intelligent, kind-hearted, honest, humble, a beautiful person, an excellent scientist, there was no evil in him. He was a great man, the scientific world tragically lost a unique being, a great scientist and an honorable person. In memory of Mike Bingham PENGUIN HERO."
— Noelia Reineck,
Mike's life partner and research assistant of 9 years
While not a biologist herself, Noelia contributed to and loved assisting Mike with his work. She has knowledge of the penguin colony, where her job was taking photographs, monitoring the nests, and doing a birth and death chart of the penguins. Noelia plans to keep Mike's memory alive by ensuring his websites stay online to provide a record of his lifes work, continuing to watch over the penguins and taking over the penguin adoption scheme Mike started.
"In these 9 years I went with Mike to do the work, I learned a lot, I had the best teacher. I would like to continue with the penguins, since many people have adopted a penguin and I would like them to continue receiving photos. As for the reports, I'm going to do that little by little since he was in charge of that. For now what I can do is name your penguin, take photos of it and send it to you. I would only ask for a little patience for two reasons:
- I don't speak English, I use a translator
- I have to organize Mike's computer to make the reports as he did.I am delighted because it is what Mike liked to do.
Last year in November I went to the penguin colony like every year, but this time with a pain in my heart and a lot of sadness and I looked for the cutest penguin and I named him Mike."
— Noelia Reineck
